Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Dumont Clarke was not happy to read that county taxpayers could be on the hook for repaying $600,000 in debt that StudentFirst Academy has amassed in its opening months.

The school's board of directors met Monday with the N.C. Charter School Advisory Board to talk about the school's survival in the wake of financial, management and educational problems that led to the firing of two founders and top administrators in December. StudentFirst leaders said they can repay the debt over the next 2 1/2 years, relying on county money because state money can't be used for that purpose. The board also hopes to raise private donations to help, board members said.

Clarke

Clarke emailed County Manager Dena Diorio and other county officials Tuesday asking for a report on how much county money is going to StudentFirst and what options the county has to avoid paying for the independently-run public school's mistakes.

"I would ask you to monitor developments involving this non-profit organization closely and consider being prepared to take all necessary and appropriate steps, including legal action should the Board decide to direct you to do so, to prevent the board of this non-profit from using future County tax dollars for a bailout of these current year debts," Clarke wrote. "...(W)hen the government gives money to non-governmental entities (whether they be non-profit or for-profit) to provide public services such as education, the government should take steps to make sure that the money is not wasted or misused. If a non-profit charter school can get into financial trouble this quickly after it opens (less than seven months) and need a local government bailout of its debts, it appears to me that the regulatory oversight that is in place for charter schools, particularly considering the rapid expansion of them that is underway for next year and the following year, is wholly inadequate."Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is required to pass along a per-pupil share of its county allotment to all charter schools that serve Mecklenburg students. This year CMS got $356.6 million from the county and must pass along money for just over 10,800 charter students.In a recent report to the N.C. Office of Charter Schools, StudentFirst said it gets $74,780 a month in local money for just under 300 students enrolled there.Paying back the debt, which includes bank loans and overdue bills to vendors, wouldn't force the county to pay StudentFirst extra. Instead, the payment plan would eat into the money available to pay for the education of next year's students. The StudentFirst board has already cut back staff and sacrificed many of the academic extras that were promised so they can bring spending under control.The state advisory board has given StudentFirst's board until April to present a detailed financial and academic recovery plan. Based on that, the advisory board will decide whether to recommend that the N.C. Board of Education revoke the charter or let StudentFirst remain open.County Commissioner Bill James agreed that he'd like to protect county money -- "I am generally in favor of oversight for everyone, even CMS" -- but voiced skepticism that the current system allows that.Clarke said he expects county and CMS officials to continue talks about oversight of charter schools and local spending.

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comments:

Anonymous
said...

Yeah, because to people like Dumont and Claire Fallon it's way more important to spend money on plopping down "low-income" housing in middle class neighborhoods. That's what will ultimately fix all of our education woes.

Our government officials trip all over themselves trying to figure out how "government" can solve the problem of this demographic. So anyone who comes up with any idea can get a wad of money with little oversight and due diligence. Because if any government official suggested such responsible actions, they would be branded a racists for picking on this demographic. They would be roasted by the Charlotte Observer editorial board. Their homes would be marched on by the NAACP. And they jobs would demanded to be terminated.

When can we see an article about the positive and great things occurring in local charter schools like Union Academy, Queens Grant, Socrates Academy, Lake Norman, Kipp, Charlotte Secondary, Metropolitan Regional Scholars?

There are bad apples in every basket but plenty of good ones. Let's see a story on good apples.

Whether it's a county school system or charter school, all are public schools and use the same public tax dollars for operations. Unlike county school systems, charter schools do not receive any public funds for capital improvements. It does not appear to be a "bailout", just an isolated case of a charter school mismanaging their public fund allotment. Let's ask Mr. Melody how many NC charter schools are properly managing public funds?

To Wiley Coyote--FYI and to all the taxpayers--the next boondoggle coming is the Amateur Sports Complex coming to the Bojangles Arena on Independence. They plan on spending around 80M dollars to create a Sports Complex with a group that has had "NO, None, Nada" success in developing such complexes. In fact the two complexes they tried to develop--have problems (a la Bert Hesse). But since the development group wants to allow the CRVA to run the events--the City and Ron Kimble feel it is a good deal. CRVA-check Whitewater Complex and NASCAR HOF. CRVA has never run an event--they could not even inflate a basketball. Stay tune--the next White Elephant is coming to the East Side along with the Movie Studio at Eastland Mall.

There does need to be more oversight--it does seem like many charters DO get rubber-stamped without enough scrutiny. (Remember the cases of the charter applications that were plagiarized last year?) Nobody's saying there aren't successful charters--of course there are. But they are all using public money. For the county and the elected Board of Education to have no say in how they are run, yet be left with the bill at the end of the day--that's a problem, to me.

A hit piece to make charter schools look bad. Dumont Clark, the Observer. NYC Mayor de Blasio, Barack Obama and the rest of the Democrat Party have a vested political interest in protecting failed public schools no matter how many poor and minority students it may hurt.

The article makes the per pupil expenditure sound bad..."Student First gets $74,780 a month in local money for just under 300 students enrolled there." Wow. Sounds like a lot. A big rip off. It is $2988 per year. CMS spends $8973 per pupil and the amount is consistent with local money spent in CMS per pupil.

Clark lectures "It appears that the regulatory oversight that is in place for Charter Schools is totally inadequate." Really? Well what about concern for the inadequacy of oversight of all the wasted millions of our $1.2 BILLION budget for the failed CMS public school system? A system where their best plan for improving student test performance is to make the test easier.How about regulatory oversight for all the wasted money funneled through the Democrats in cities, states and federal programs throughout the country?

Mr. Clark asks for "options the city has to avoid paying for the independently run public school's mistakes." Why not the same option the Democrat Party turns to for their "mistakes" and careless disregard of spending? Just figure out how to take more money from the taxpayer!

But the taxpayer is suddenly a concern and fiscal responsibility a concern when it involves a program like Charter Schools that liberals oppose for political reasons.

according to many of the parents who are posting reviews at greatschools.org, Queens Grant is apparently not one of those good apples either, but then again, that is merely their opinion. Lake Norman looks like a really good school and offers a nice alternative for those looking for options. Even though I am not an advocate for charter schools, it would be tough to send a child to North Meck where it appears there has been very little reinvestment in facility upgrades.

Can Dr Leake find out if any of the criminals involved with this charter school scam also happen to have worked at DSS or attend a certain church? There seems to be a pattern in local Govco management when these problems arise, and they seem to be a Democrat at the root of the cause.When will the voters in our county ever wake up?

Shamash: Perhaps you have missed all the recent articles on the sex offenders and child porn perverts that have been uncovered recently in the public schools? One was even a principal.

Charter Schools are not perfect. They will have their share of problems and of problem people just like any organization. But the model has proved to be much more economical and much more effective and successful in improving educational performance than our public school model.

If we held public schools to the same standards the left wants to hold Charter Schools to we would close most all of them.

This is a bad apple. A couple of things the state should do if you are going to set up a charter within an already economically and educationally low area: the charter before opening doors must show at least $100,000 in reserves at all times and if that money is to be used, someone from the state must approve its use. The state also must demand a detailed list of how these schools will raise money, and not the typical "raise funds from community", but a detailed list how (festivals, marathons, silent actions). But at the same token, this Observer writer never writes about the good of charters in the Charlotte area or how North Charlotte students are flocking to the charters. The charters in the North Charlotte area are running on 1000 kid waitlist, parents are getting desperate to get their kids out of CMS. I want to see an article about this and what CMS is doing about this.

I'm "irked" (I can think of a better word) that I'm still paying county taxes to fund the idiocy inherent in CMS while my child attends a Christian school. This school system is well on its way to becoming just another big-city urban jungle, and no amount of money you can throw at it is going to reverse that trend. Democrats are now running this town...and we ALL know how that ends up, every time. Lord help us.

A few years ago the teachers at Queens Grant were called to a special meeting. The teachers were told the budget wasn't going well so they would have an immediate 10% pay cut. Charter school leaders can get in over their heads early on. I personally would not consider any charter that is less than 4 years old.

While it's not true that I've NEVER written about charter successes, it's absolutely true that I have written little or nothing about most of the schools cited (though many individual CMS schools could make the same complaint). Part of the challenge is what comes out in some of these comments -- when I do a "success" article I want to make sure it stands up to scrutiny. Trying to tease out the charters that offer the clearest academic value and explore more about how they do it is high on my to-do list.

As the previous writer wrote Ann, there continuous to be a absolute lack of Observer coverage on why so many charters are opening in North Charlotte and why there is a 1000+ family waitlist at any of these charters. There was one article written in the beginning of the school year about this but nothing about why families are leaving CMS in droves. Not one reporter has spoken to CMS officials and held them accountable. Families in this area are desperate, parents are blue in the face trying to talk to education leaders about this issue and really have given up. The Observer continues its coverage on Union County and South Charlotte issues, but continues to miss the hottest topic in education regarding CMS, North Charlotte/Huntersville issues with the schools. Why are parents willing to sit on a 1000+ waitlist, desperate to leave CMS even to a charter that just opened. Hence, Union County parents look like a bunch of brats considering the garbage that North Charlotte parents are going through with the schools. Nice coverage observer!

10:44, my January story on the application season did cite north Meck families choosing charters and touched on the heavy concentration of existing and new charters in that area. Again, not at all disputing that there is much more to explore. Also, that story touched on one of the issues with the long wait lists: They're real, but many of the same families are on several lists.http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/10/4602095/school-choice-boon-brings-options.html#.UyBzavldUbI

The northern meck. parents seem to pointing to the negative impact the opening of the popula Hough high had on Noth Meck high. Mallard Creek and Vance seem to be losing many to lake norman charter. Could some of the parents explain?

The Hough High v. North Meck, and Mallard Creek and Vance v. lake Norman Charter issues seem clear to me. Demographics, which translates to readiness and desire to learn and discipline in the classroom. The only fault I can find with CMS is its hugely bloated central staff. But once empire building becomes the goal, it is hard to dismantle.

And by the way did anyone notice the lack of an interview with a couple of teachers and parents at this charter school she has taken under her wing hoping it becomes the next Pat McCrory is insulted people looking at the website story?

Strange how close to 10,000 Charter School students at so many schools did not have any problems and apparently are getting a great education.

We all know that if you are a Charter School Parent with a whiff of anything bad about the school, you can be front page of the observer tomorrow.

And why not a story on how much we would have to pay for new schools and the like for those kids if we brought them back into the CMS fold.

I am glad that this charter school is getting a chance in the real world to get a plan, as it is already captured, weighed and found guilty by the court of public opinion led by our only educational writer at the observer.

Sorry shamah, since this was a story on a Charter School and you did not say all schools in your comment, well not until this last one you made, than some may have felt you wanted only stories on Charter Schools.

I know that for some reason we have seen an extraordinary focus on Charter Schools by the observer. I just wonder which of those crawly things are not getting reported in CMS.

Especially since the have what 130 thousand kids and Charters only around 11 thousand.

I just hope you do not think we do not need government control of the majority of kids futures. It would just be great if we had the same focus on CMS.

Shamash, welcome to my world. Sometimes the best testimonial is that both sides are equally mad at you.

I think CMS gets far more scrutiny from me and other news media than all charter schools combined, even with the recent StudentFirst stories. I also think it's a near certainty that misdeeds and problems at individual CMS and charter schools go unreported. There's the sheer volume, there are personnel confidentiality laws that block revelation of some important information, etc.

My take is that charters and districts both have oversight systems that are different and imperfect. Districts have elected boards. Charters have self-perpetuating boards. News media and larger segments of the public keep an eye on districts. The state Office of Charter Schools monitors charters. Districts have central staff which, ideally, can detect and deal with problems at individual schools. A whole lot of for-profit companies are lining up to work with (and make money from) charters and districts. Bottom line: Waste, fraud, mismanagement and all the other bad stuff can happen in either setting. So can all the good stuff we want to happen in schools.

to the person who remarked about the recent sex scandals at CMS schools, google Tim Ruzbacki (York Prep in Rock Hill SC), a board member of that charter school who was CONVICTED of child porn (he spent a lot of time on that campus). Google Dianne leigh Farrell of Union Acadamy ( the good apple school), arrested for having sex with underage male students.

Ettolrach, You must have been out of town a few weeks ago when the studentsfirst story broke. Ann did interview teachers and parents about the school.....as well as others. Teachers stated they rarely if ever had seen the assistant principal and office manager of the school. The two just happened to be the husband and son of the charter director. When hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money is either missing or been squandered it is newsworthy. Add the lawsuits, firings, and state ultimatums then this obviously is a public interest story. The moral here is if you don't want negative publicity then don't screw up.

it's amazing to me that when a writer merely reports about an issue with a local charter school she gets tapped as anti charter and pro public schools. I tend to agree with this commissioner on this, why should the tax payer be on the hook for two individuals who stole this money. And if you think this is an isolated issue, you are greatly mistaken. Research Carolina International School for example. Research Mr. Baker Mitchell, as you will find, he is on the charter school board of NC and is currently under federal investigation (talk about the fox ruling the hen house). Corporations such as Charter Schools USA, Jonathon Hage has been using his strong political influence to promote his education empire since 1996. There are questions being raised about him as well with regards to his hiring of senators wives etc to gain favor. He is worth millions as a result and he is not alone, this is all over the country.

"Operating under the name Harmony Schools, Cosmos has moved quickly to become the largest charter school operator in Texas, with 33 schools receiving more than $100 million a year in taxpayer funds."

"records show that virtually all recent construction and renovation work has been done by Turkish-owned contractors. Several established local companies said they had lost out even after bidding several hundred thousand dollars lower."

I think NC needs to slow down. I am a on the conservative side of things but it seems many of the decisions made last summer have failed or been changed. Tillis said the master pay legislation was a mistake. The 25% tenure legislation is not working. I belive in charters. There are good charters and bad ones. Nation wide 1 in 4 are successful. Weed the bad charters out. Pay teachers what was promised before the great recession and come up with a bonus plan for our best teachers. Be methodical, plan. Do not just do things because Florida does. Make sure we have stable funding. From what I have read, the new plan to pay new teachers only has funding for one year. We seem to be rushing into things and making everyone unhappy. We need to see what works for NC.

The $290 million in bonds for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools won 74 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting. That was the largest margin of victory for a CMS bond vote since the 73 percent approval in 1997.

My son attends this school and believe me it wasn't pleasant! I agree tax payers should not be on the hook for this. Those individuals placed in charge that had access to the funds should be held accountable. The only reason we are still there is because he has an excellent teacher and cared for his students during that turbulent transition. All eyes are on Student First and I'm certain things should get better.

I didn't agree with the bond but I do think teachers need their pay back. Mabey people thought the money was for teachers as well. I believe schools are students and teachers. Not buildings and stadiums and on... Thanks for the info

It'd be nice to see a story or 2 about parents who've taken their children out of CMS in favor of a charter, only to bring them back to CMS mid-year because the charter school was a ruse.

Talk to teachers and administrators, every year about 2-3 months into the school year and then again at the break, droves of students come back to CMS because the charters they were at were awful.

The best part is those teachers have to work twice as hard to catch those students up, otherwise their test scores will knock the teacher into the ineffective category and we all know the wingnuts in Raleigh are looking for anything they can use to hammer teachers even more.

Whoever said charters are doing a better job of educating is living in rainbow unicorn land. Those students that come back to CMS are further behind than when they left.

And someone mentioned on here apparently we have boomerang kids giving Charter Schools a couple of months and going back to the fold at CMS.

And then the poor Teachers at CMS have this effecting their ratings as those two or three months must have taken those kids memories and they know nothing when they arrive back.

At least that is way we are to buy that story.

Or try this, the Charter was too intensive, and the parents took them back to CMS where the were put back with a different teacher, allowing the original teacher they were with at CMS not have them in their ratings.

You seem to have left out the major part where all their education up to this point has apparently been rendered at CMS.

Shamash, I can't imagine any teacher has any stomach to be a whistleblower on students returning from charters. I'd think a lot of teachers perceive that Raleigh doesn't give 2 pennies about their opinions, so why waste the time and effort for zero return?

They'd rather take that time to teach those returning students and hope their invalid effectiveness rating doesn't get them fired.

To the Charlotte spelled backwards commenter...when you make a informative, valid comment, I'll reply, though I'm sure you'll have a wonderfully ignorant comment to make to that too.

Shamash, talk with teachers at various schools, especially those in areas with lots of charters. They're happy to talk outside of the school and off the record...don't blame them, in this environment, it's better to let someone else be the rabble rouser. It's not worth the effort to try, many of them need this job, the state knows that too and take full advantage of it.